Real-time network stress tests help admins prepare for the worst

Part of a network administrator’s job is to make sure the agency’s enterprise has the capacity to handle worst-case amounts of traffic. Whether it’s a super-network the size of U.C. San Diego’s or something closer to average, there is always the possibility that it will approach its capacity, affecting network performance and reliability.

Instead of waiting until the network is overloaded, admins can stress test it by running simulations.

Fluke Networks just announced the release of its newest version (v10) of the OptiView XG Network Analysis Tablet, which for the first time offers real-time stress testing. With Version 10, network engineers can inject test traffic to measure network performance, examine the traffic’s impact on infrastructure, spot ongoing problems and/or expose many intermittent issues, and map out exactly where problems are located. It runs on any network with bandwidths up to 10 gigabits/sec, including 802.11a/b/g/n wireless LANs.

“The new capabilities of the OptiView XG have a huge impact both when we’re diagnosing problems and when we’re rolling out new services like [voice over IP],” said Tommy Pruitt, vice president of operations of Pruitt Communications, a network communications company that uses OptiView. “It reduces our problem resolution time by isolating root cause in minutes instead of hours or days and allows us to eliminate having to use a variety of tools.”

“Until now, test solutions provided only results and couldn’t do both network performance testing and problem isolation in the same test, or even the same solution,” said Dan Klimke, OptiView XG product manager at Fluke Networks. “OptiView XG gives IT professionals one comprehensive test to speed the process.”

Along with this new version, Fluke is also offering an iOS app called HeadsUp XG, which will receive alerts directly from the OptiView XG. Through it admins can check in on the progress of multiple OptiView XG units as well as view their problem logs. This app is available in the Apple iTunes store.

About the Author

Greg Crowe is a former GCN staff writer who covered mobile technology.

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Reader Comments

Thu, Apr 18, 2013
Neal Saunders

Fluke has always been the goto tool maker for network appliances designed for testing. Nice to see they are still at it. Our agency bought several handheld units about six years ago, and they still get used almost once a week. We will probably need to upgrade to get Gbit testing, but I bet the old ones will still hang around. They last forever.

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